Our Favorite Joanna Gaines Makeovers From 'Mini Reni'

Joanna Gaines is known for all-out renovations — after all, there's no point in having a "demo day" if you don't plan on revealing an entirely new home. But Joanna has also always been creative with the details, which is why her show Mini Reni is so much fun. In the series, Joanna works with clients who don't want to knock down walls but are willing to see what she can accomplish using fewer resources and a shorter timeline. Here are some of our favorite updates she made in Mini Reni, proving big changes can come in small packages.

In this episode, Joanna's client had a guest-room-meets-storage-space in her home that featured a trio of arched bookcases, and she had the idea to turn one of the archways into a "secret" opening for her children to use as an entrance into their new play area.

The client wanted the space to be playful and interactive, which was achieved in part by this entrance. The archway was existing, but an extra-long door hinge created a passageway with storage on either side.

Through the magical archway and into the playroom, woodsy wallpaper creates a whimsical ambiance. The bay window now boasts new trim, a custom bench with scallop details and a bespoke cushion.

This client wanted a "Southwestern-inspired, lived-in" feel for this mini reni, which Joanna hoped to accomplish through a desert-hued palette and matching furnishings. The living area was transformed into a dining room, which sits beside a coordinating foyer.

Joanna's goal for all mini renis is to ensure the small changes she makes in each project have a big impact. In this makeover, the details carried a lot of weight. She installed beams in the entryway and foyer for additional character and commissioned art from a local artist.

The former living area was converted into a dining space, complete with a fresh coat of sandy-hued limewash and furnishings. The green chair at the head of the table matches the verdant cabinetry in the entryway.

The original foyer adjacent to the dining room had all of the components the client wanted for a lived-in feel; it just needed more personality. Nothing some paint and a few materials couldn't fix!

Joanna added custom door fronts to the built-in bookshelves and terra-cotta tiles on the floors for an earthy, Southwestern finish. A cushion on the window bench (made from a rug!) provides more texture and practicality — it's the perfect spot to take off and put on shoes.

This bathroom was part of a home the owners had been renovating for quite some time — and they asked Joanna to help them make progress. The original plan was to turn the space into a walk-in closet, but the budget wouldn't allow it. So, Joanna kept it as is, but spiffed it up.

The client requested a "classic, lived-in, funky, and eclectic" bathroom, which Joanna delivered using stacked tiles in the shower and above the vanity that contrast with the green-and-white tiles on the floor.

The existing sunroom was supposed to be a new bathroom, but the clients had to keep their budget in check. Joanna retained the layout but made the new space multifunctional and welcoming.

With matching flooring and coordinating color palettes, the sunroom and bathroom flow into each other. And the cohesion continues: Burgundy trim around the windows complements the thick baseboards in the sunroom and mirrors the wood stain on the bathroom vanity. Spindle-legged furniture adds a historical touch.

Mixed materials in the sunroom — brass touches, woven materials and patterned fabrics — give the client the "eclectic" look they requested. Now it's a relaxed, yet refined space

Joanna started from scratch on this space, which was once a den divided into a kitchen, mudroom and pantry.

The client asked for a moody, yet charming craft room — and the finished space features ample storage for art supplies and more. Mementos and accessories in wood, brass and brown decorate the built-ins and balance out the dark blue.

The mudroom connects to the craft room via an archway, and brown-and-cream tiles run through both spaces for a practical and stylish touch. Floral wallpaper adds cheerful whimsy and brightens the dark paint throughout.

In this home, Joanna was tasked with turning a formal living and dining space into his-and-hers offices. The catch? One owner asked for a "moody and masculine" office, while the other requested "French girl" and feminine. Plus, both rooms were connected.

For "moody and masculine," Joanna delivered with built-in bookcases that match the pocket doors between both offices.

Texture was added to the space using applied molding, a more affordable alternative to wainscoting. Joanna painted the molding and the ceiling a dark blue shade. Gray-toned plaid wallpaper coordinates with the striped wallpaper in the other office.

Joanna couldn't replace the windows in this office without going over budget, so she had to figure out a way to incorporate them. "If the space isn't working for you," Joanna said, "change it." She added trim to the ceiling to create a coffered look and installed molding around the window. Both give the room an updated feel.

A classic stripe pattern was used on the walls in the more feminine office, complete with a gallery wall and traditional furnishings that come across as light and romantic — just as the client wanted.

After the Gaines' youngest son, Crew, decided to move out of his bedroom next to the kitchen and into a different space in the house, Joanna knew a mini reni was in her future.

Because of its proximity to the kitchen, Joanna decided to turn Crew's old bedroom into a moody butler's pantry for extra space while entertaining. Thanks to an oversized custom hutch — complete with a movable ladder — and an island, this enclave is perfect for prepwork and storage. And we wouldn't be surprised if Joanna just wants to hang out here, too.

Tongue-and-groove paneling on the walls brings character. Joanna color-drenched the butler's pantry in the same green as her kitchen cabinets, creating cohesion between the two rooms.